New laws permitting gardaí to issue on-the-spot fines to people who are drunk or disorderly in a public place came into force today.
Under the new laws, gardaí can issue a fine of €140 for being disorderly or €100 for being drunk in a public place. People can choose to pay the fine in lieu of being prosecuted for the offence.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern said the new laws would be a more "efficient and effective use of Garda resources" and would cut down on the need for court proceedings for less serious public order offences.
"These provisions form part of measures which I have introduced to deal with the public order problems caused by alcohol abuse," he said.
"They provide An Garda Síochána with another tool in enforcing the provisions of the law designed to deal with the public disorder consequences of such abuse."